I bought a fab sewing book this week. It’s called “The Sewing Book” by Alison Smith and I think it’s really going to get a lot of use!

It’s got lovely step-by-step instructions on how to do practically anything sewing-related. Each step comes with its own colour photograph so you can see exactly what you should be doing. It also explains the properties of different types of fabric which I find really useful (I don’t know about you but I still don’t know my chambray from my chenille!).

It also has a “Project” section at the back ~ and one of the projects shows you how to draft a simple kimono pattern. Looking at the instructions I think I may be able to adapt the pattern to create the jacket for the Welsh costume (see last post). I’ve never tried drafting my own pattern before so that should be interesting!

I can say only one negative thing ~ and it has nothing to do with the book really ~ I bought my copy in Borders because Nat gave me a £10 voucher to say thank you for making the curtains. The book was £25 so I put £15 of my own money to it (little maths lesson there). I’ve just looked on the web for a picture of the book to post here and I’ve discovered that the Book People are selling it for £8.99! What did my mum always say “Act in haste, repent at leisure”? Oh well, I still really like my book …..

For those of you who don’t live in Wales, we have just celebrated St David’s Day. If, like me you work in a primary school, that means Welsh Dragon pictures everywhere, leeks, cawl (lamb & vegetable soup) for dinner, Eisteddfods (song, poetry & dance competitions) and, most importantly, little girls dressed in Welsh costumes.

Chloe in Welsh Costume around 2002

A few of the teachers mentioned that they’d like to dress up on the day too but adult costumes can’t be bought “off the peg” and cost upwards of £150 to have made specially. So of course I said “I’ll make some ready for next year for you”. Nice idea but where on earth am I going to get a pattern???

After a lot of fruitless searching of pattern catalogues I decided to get some proper advice. I emailed St Fagins, National Museum of Welsh Life who suggested I contact The National Wool Museum in Drefach-Felindre. Apparently they make the traditional fabric there and also “made to order” costumes so they may be able to help with a pattern.

I also emailed “Sewing World” magazine. Julie Bonnar, the Assistant Editor, got straight back to me with suggestions of patterns I could adapt. Many thanks Julie! And of course Babs, my lovely tutor, had lots of good ideas too – she suggested using a simple kimono pattern and adapting that to suit.

I’ve now got about 11 months to work on this project ~ I’ll keep you posted.